Be Relentless: An Interview with children's book author, Lydia Lukidis

My interview today is with Lydia Lukidis who is a children's author with a multi-disciplinary background that spans the fields of literature, science, and theater. So far, she has over 40 books and eBooks published, as well as a dozen educational books. Her latest STEM books include The Broken Bees’ Nest and The Space Rock Mystery. Read on to discover how she’s been successful.

What drew you to writing children’s books?

I’ve been writing since the age of 6, but I focused mostly on poetry and short stories for many years. After getting a degree in English Literature, I went on a different venture- I became a puppeteer! I made string marionettes and wrote plays for children. That’s when I realized that I *loved* writing for children.

How long did it take you to write your first book?

My first children’s book was published in 2014. It took about 6 months to write. Some books take a few months, while many others take years.

What made you choose a gerbil as your main character point of view?

My first two trade picture books revolved around gerbils. I built narratives for characters that my publisher at the time had created. It was great fun! Children love gerbils and we did live photography to illustrate the book. The photos really brought the book to the next level.

Are you active with any writing critique groups?Yes! I highly recommend getting involved. People in the kidlit community are incredibly generous and it’s a good place to get advice and support. My favorite groups are Kidlit411, Sub it, as well as groups for giving workshops in schools.

I also have my own critique group and we help each other when needed. I met them through SCBWI, which is an essential organization to be part of if you write for children professionally.

How did you go about finding an agent / publisher?

I mostly relied on sending queries directly to agents. That’s how I found my 2 previous agents. A lot of research is required, you need to know who the right match will be and who will best represent your work.

I have also approached editors at publishing houses. There are many that accept unsolicited manuscripts. I’ve attended writing conferences, but not as much as I’d like. But they’re a great place to network with other writers, and often big agents and editors will allow you to query them after the event.

What is the hardest part of writing for you? Starting? Creating a scene? Dialog?

I have no shortage of ideas and it’s easy for me to start my stories. My main problem comes with the development of the narrative arc. I also have trouble with endings!

I’m getting more comfortable with the pacing in picture books because I read and write so many. But when it comes to novels, I find pacing is more challenging.

What does your editor remind you to do most often?

I work with different editors, but my top two mistakes would be misplaced commas and telling rather than showing.

What’s the best encouragement you’ve had in your writing?

It’s always positive when an agent or editor tells you your work is on point. But for me, the ultimate audience is children. A few years back, I got my first “fan letter” from one of my young readers. He took the time to type out a letter on why he loved my book. My heart melted, and I sent him a huge care package to show my appreciation. When children, who can be honest yet sometimes harsh critics, love your work, that’s the moment of greatest satisfaction.

We have all experienced rejection. How have you learned to write past it?

Trust me, I could line my entire house with all the rejection letters I’ve gotten over the years! I’ve learned to not take them personally, but some sting more than others. The ones that sting the most are when I get close, and an agent/editor asked to see more of my work, but then ultimately passes. That’s tough. I usually eat some chocolate, have a good cry, and then right back to it. It’s okay to fall, but you need to be relentless and keep getting back up.

What has surprised you the most in writing/publishing?

When I first started out, I was astounded how LONG everything takes in the publishing industry! It takes several years to publish a book. And, as with most other writers, I get frustrated when I don’t get a reply from a query. A “no” is better than no reply because at least you know where you stand. 

I understand the nature of the industry better now- agents and editors are inundated, and simply don’t have the time to reply to everyone, though they’d like to. You just have to roll with it.

What do you know now about writing you wished you had known sooner?

Regarding picture books, I wish I had started making dummies earlier, and adding page spreads. Since I started doing that, it made a world of difference in the pacing and tension. Also, READ YOUR STORY OUT LOUD! Sounds so simple, but when I started out, I wasn’t doing it. Reading it out loud helps understands how it flows, and more importantly, when it doesn’t flow as well.

What is the best writing advice you’ve received or could give?

An author I really respect, Laura Purdie Salas, once gave me great advice about having the wisdom to know it’s time to let go of a manuscript. Often, when we spend a lot of time on a project and put in considerable effort, we feel like we need to publish that book. But the truth is, writers don’t publish everything they write. You need to learn from experience and accept when to shelf a certain project.

Are there any other points about writing you would like to add?

Just a reminder to write every day. I often get bogged down with answering emails, researching or administrative tasks, and there’s hardly enough time to write. That’s why I make a to-do list each week, to make sure I carve that time out.

What is the next book coming out? Can you give me a short synopsis?

I just released a new picture book called NO BEARS ALLOWED illustrated by Tara J. Hannon and published by Blue Whale Press. I’ll be hosting a book launch shortly. Here’s the synopsis:

Rabbit is afraid of many things, but most of all he’s afraid of gigantic, monstery, BEARS! The very nervous Rabbit is soon confronted by his worst fear who appears to be far more interested in making new friends than causing Rabbit any real harm. 

Despite his apprehension, Rabbit agrees to join his jovial new acquaintance for dinner, but wait a minute . . . is Bear planning to “have” Rabbit for dinner? In this tender story about a very nervous rabbit and a lovable bear, Rabbit discovers that things aren’t always as scary as they seem, and sometimes you may just have more in common with others than you think.

Sounds like a fun story. Here’s a link to purchase it.  https://www.amazon.com/No-Bears-Allowed-Lydia-Lukidis/dp/0981493890/

If you’d like to learn more about her other books, get connected with these links: www.lydialukidis.com

Blog: https://lydialukidis.wordpress.com/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/LydiaLukidis/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/LydiaLukidis

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lydialukidis/?trk=hp-identity-name

Getting Past Rejection: An Interview with Olivia Jarmusch

What made you decide to write your first novel? Was there any particular author you read that made you think, I could write like that?
I’ve been writing ever since I was a little girl. I wrote a lot in middle school and high school, but after I graduated, I put my fictional writing on the back burner. I focused more on nonfiction writing, as I was working on articles for my magazine (Crown of Beauty) and other projects. I actually started writing The Coronation when I was a teenager, but never finished it. (Author’s you know how that feels!) It wasn’t until a few years later when my cousins were visiting and I read some of it to them, just for fun.

They really enjoyed it, and it made me think, ‘Hmm…I wonder what would happen if I buckled down and finished this thing? Would the girls who read my magazine be interested in this story?’ It turned out, they were! I had some beta readers go through it and I was overjoyed by their responses. I can’t say that there was ever one particular author who inspired me to write, but I have very very lofty ambitions and harbor this totally unrealistic whimsical daydream of maybe just MAYBE writing stories as beautiful as Jane Austen…but I know I’ve got a long way to go.

How long did it take you to write your book? How many rewrites did you do on it? Who helped you with the editing?
As I mentioned, I wrote the first half of The Coronation in high school. When I returned and decided to take the story seriously, it was a year of rewrites, then another six months of editing.

What is the hardest part of writing for you? Starting? Creating a scene? Dialog? Tension, etc?
It used to be dialogue. I struggled with giving each character a unique voice and making sure they didn’t all sound like me! But as I continue to write, that’s become easier. I have three more novels (unpublished) I’ve written since The Coronation, and I feel like I’ve improved a lot.

The hardest part for me is ending the story. I get a little nervous because you want that final scene to be absolutely stunning. In my mind, the two most important scenes are the first scene and the last scene. Because at the beginning of the book, if the reader is excited they’ll want to tell their friends about it. And if, at the end of the book they’re struck with intense emotion (be it happy, sad, bittersweet, etc), then they’ll be excited about the next installment. (The Coronation is the first in a trilogy, hence the reason I really want that last scene to sparkle!)

What’s the best encouragement you’ve had in your writing?
For me, the greatest encouragement has been when a reader is truly, truly in love with my work. When the characters feel like their best friends. When they laugh and cry, and send you an intense email about how they stayed up past midnight reading your story. What could possibly be more encouraging than that?

Words of affirmation and excitement from readers really fill my tank of inspiration and perseverance and help me to continue plowing forward. I’ve always been encouraged by the fact that even when I receive negative reviews about my debut novel (yeah, it happens), I’ll often find words of encouragement buried beneath all the harsh critique.

Someone will say, “Even though I didn’t like the story, this author has a gift.” Or, “I see some inexperience here, but I’m looking forward to seeing what she does in the future.” And even though it’s not a raving 5 Star Review, it’s enough to say, ‘Keep going! Keep moving forward! You’re not perfect yet, but you’re making progress, and as long as you don’t give up, you’re going to keep getting better and better.’ As authors, I think that’s something we all need to remember.

We have all experienced rejection. Give me an example of how you learned to write past it.
I’m going to be completely honest here: the first negative review I received caused me to cry. I didn’t think it was going to. But it did. The tears fell and I felt as though I had just wasted years of my life on something which this person didn’t care about. They didn’t embrace it, they didn’t like it, and they nitpicked all of the reasons why it wasn’t their cup of tea. It wasn’t a direct attack against me, but that’s what it felt like: an arrow of insecurity shooting directly toward my soul.

After a few more sniffles, praying a little bit, and getting my mind back in the right place, I was reminded of the truth: I am not defined by what I write. But who I am should define what I write. If someone doesn’t like my story…that is completely fine. There are people who don’t like castles, and glitter, and fairy tales, and I have to be okay with that. Negatives reviews will come, and people will nitpick my plot, my characters, my motives and my skill…but I’m going to write anyway. At the end of the day, I write because there are stories inside that I know I need to get out. It brings me so much joy to let my fingers fly, and if others can join in on the fun…that’s wonderful! And if not? Well, I’m going to write anyway.

What made you choose the indie route?
I looked a lot at different publishing options for many years. I chose self-publishing for The Coronation because I already had eager readers excited to get their hands on the paperback version. I’d been building a platform for several years already, and the girls were asking for it. Self-publishing gave me the ability to share this story in my own way, without having to go through the long process of working with an agent and begin traditionally published.


I could definitely see myself pursuing traditional publishing in the future, as my platform and readership continues to grow, and I want to launch new series’ and novels. But for starting out, it’s all about connecting with readers, and I feel like self-publishing is such a great way to get yourself out there, make the experience really purposeful and meaningful for your readers, invite them to be part of the process, and gift them with a high quality, easy to access, professional-quality book.

What was the most challenging part about putting together the book?
The hardest part about self-publishing is most definitely the formatting, but thankfully I have a sweet and knowledgeable friend who helped with that! Otherwise, one may need to seek help from a professional, because the formatting of your book is so extremely important.

What do you know now about writing that you wished you had known sooner?
Negative reviews are not the end of the world. The purpose of writing isn’t to please everybody. It’s to express the gift that is inside of you, tell the stories that are burning in your heart, and encourage those to whom your works are destined to touch.

What is some of the best writing advice that you’ve received or could give?
One of my favorite quotes is, “If you don’t see the book on the shelf that you want to read, write it!” I’m not sure who said that, but I’ve kept that quote close to my heart for many years. It really resonates with me, because when I was a young teen, I really struggled to find books that I enjoyed.

In a profession as competitive as this one, it’s easy to think, “There are already millions of books out there! Nobody cares about what I have to say. Why would I write another story, when there might already be something similar, and far more popular, out there?” That’s true. But you know what’s also true? Nobody on this planet has the same fingerprint as you. They don’t have the same voice, the same mind, or the same personality. You are 100% unique and this world needs your uniqueness! I truly believe that everyone has something special and one-of-a-kind to give.

So why not bring your gifts to the table? Why not write something that could potentially have the power to change someone’s life? And if, at the very least, just brighten someone’s day? There’s not enough joy, happiness, smiles, and beauty in this world…so why not lift your pen and start spreading it around? Why not plant flowers of love and seeds of hope, and be who you were TRULY created to be?

Are there any other points about writing that you would like to add?
Just do it. Fear tries to keep us silent. Fear tries to keep the caps on our pens, and our Word documents closed. We’re too busy, too inexperienced, too scatterbrained, too stressed, too imperfect…but we’ve listened to the excuses for far too long.

It is time to silence them, the fears and be who we truly are. Writers. And writers write.

They don’t just dream about writing. They don’t just talk about writing. They dig down deep, to where the gut of the issue is, and start WRITING. Write every day. Seriously. Don’t skip a day! Work on that story. Don’t leave it hanging there for months on end. Write something…write anything! Even if it’s just a sentence. Keep going. Set goals, and demolish them.

Make sacrifices. Keep going. Because the more you write, the better you get…I promise you! I’ve really only been writing seriously, for about a year and a half, and I can scarcely believe the improvements I’ve seen in my own writing! Just imagine how good you could be five years from now. Ten years from now! Just like anything else in life, writing all starts in your mind. You have to conquer your inner critique, silence the lie, and go for it.

What is the next book that will be coming out? Can you give me a short

synopsis?
The Rebellion is a sequel to The Coronation! I don’t want to give away too much (especially for those who haven’t read The Coronation yet!) but the Tales of Tarsurella continue in this fictitious, European nation. Prince Addison (who is now King) is faced with all sorts of fresh political issues. The people of Tarsurella are not pleased with this change of power and responsibility in some shocking and rather disturbing ways. Addison must strive for a way to bring his Kingdom together before it all falls apart. 

That's all for today's interview. If you would like to learn more about Olivia's books - current and upcoming, here are two links for you!
Amazon link: http://amzn.to/2wvsHec
Good Reads link: http://bit.ly/2vyJ6kG

The Guilt and Insecurity of Writing: Author Interview with Dianne J. Wilson

Today's interview is with a writer  from South Africa, so you'll probably notice some different word spellings, between the two of us - which is fun. I love that I can get in touch with writers around the world from my computer for a chat about writing. 

Prior to writing this novel, what sort of freelance writing did you do? 
As a freelancer, my favourite thing to write was humour pages (All About Cats, Threads & Crafts, Shape) though I also found a niche in writing real life stories. I got to interview and write up the adventures of some fabulously interesting people. For a time I also wrote those odd little quizzes in women’s magazines – you know, the kind us women find ourselves doing while waiting to see the doctor.

What made you decide to take the big step and write a novel? How long did it take you to write your first book? 
I started writing Shackles out of a deep desire to produce something more than ‘fluff’. It took me five years to write. Shocking, I know. Part of that was insecurity (can I do this?) part of it was guilt (can I justify stealing this time from my family?) and part of it was sheer cluelessness (what am I doing?). I can’t really say that I re-wrote it at all, I had a wonderful group of beta-readers, who are each English gurus in their own way. They took on the editing as well. It was a team effort in every sense of the word.

Are you active with any writing groups? Who encouraged you along the way?
At the time I wrote Shackles, I was flying solo. My encouragement came from my beta readers. I’d write a few chapters and send them off, give up on writing because I was obviously useless and fooling myself, then they’d come back to me with comments like ‘please hurry up, I want to know what happens to so-and-so’ and I’d be back on the horse.

I currently run a writing group, having such fun seeing people grow in their craft and slowly become more prolific.

Did you ever want to give up writing your first book?
Many times.

What made you decide to go the indie-publishing route? Did you pitch traditional publishers or agents? 
I didn’t want to self-publish for a few reasons, mostly because I wanted to grow in my skill. I felt that self-publishing would only get me as far as what I already know. Shackles brought me a number of form rejections (so good for the self esteem), but also a good few ‘helpful’ rejections. I could tell that the editor had:  1) actually read it, 2) found some merit in it.

One of these came from an editor at Pelican / Harbourlight. She detailed what she loved about the story, but also listed reasons why it wasn’t a good fit for them. I spent the next year writing Finding Mia to their specifications and sent it to them. The editor remembered me (I nearly fainted) and they accepted it for publication. So while Shackles didn’t land a contract, it got my hairy toe in the door. At that point I re-read it and still loved the characters and the story.

Why did you choose Smashwords for the first book?

 I decided to put it up on Smashwords as a freebie sample of my writing to give potential readers the chance to see if they like my work or not. I love Smashwords as there is no initial cost—having three daughters is expensive, there’s not much extra cash hanging around waiting to be spent. Smashwords only take a percentage of any sales you make. They walk you through the process step by step and you retain complete control over your work. I’ve loved dealing with them.

How long does it take you to write a book? How do you write? 
My first took me five years and I pantsed it all the way. I started with a theme, an opening scene and my two main characters. Every time I sat down to write, I had no clear idea where the story would go.

The second, I planned using note cards. I started knowing what I wanted my reader to feel when they closed the book after reading The End. I wrote the beginning on one card, the end(ish) on another, and slotted key scenes I knew needed to happen in between. As the novel grew, I added and rearranged my scenes/cards. I did do a character sketch for my two mains before starting. I tried to write without doing that and I was stumped as I didn’t know how they would think or react. After getting to know them, I could put them in a situation together and watch the fireworks as they got on with it. Much easier! The second novel took me a year.

Where are you now in your writing?
I’ve just completed my third, Affinity. It is the first in the YA Spirit Walker series. This one had me in a headlock for a long time as it is Christian fantasy and required me to world build. Wow. What a learning curve.

I’ve been converted to outlining, it is so much quicker and you avoid problems of wrapping up wild loose ends at the finish. Having said that, each book has a life of it’s own and will seldom willingly yield to my ever-so-careful planning. In Affinity, I had two characters fall for each other that I hadn’t planned. There was chemistry from the first time I put them in a room together. I was truly shocked. Fortunately, being fantasy, the romance lines are less clearly defined than in your typical romance novel so I let them go with it.

What are some of the more difficult aspects of writing a romantic suspense novel? 
Keeping it fresh and free from clichés is a challenge. I find all the rom-com movies I’ve ever seen pop to mind when I’m planning. Also avoiding the cheese factor in dialogue and interaction takes some mental gymnastics. There has only been one ditched novel. I liked the idea of it, but couldn’t fathom how to stretch it out to 80K words.

What do you know now about writing/publishing now that you wished you had known sooner?
I wish I had trusted myself more in the beginning and just got on with it. I waited to be invited to the party. I felt that getting a publishing contract would give me the ‘right to write’. Now I know – if it’s in you, let it out. Don’t wait until it’s ‘official’.

I also wish I hadn’t spent so much time whining about not having enough time to write. I have two jobs and three kids and if I took all the time I lost bewailing my lack of writing time, I could probably have written another three books. Now, I’ve rearranged my routine slightly, get up earlier and I can consistently get out 500 words a day. It’s not a lot, but I’ll take what I can get.

What type of publicity do you do to promote your book? What has worked best for you in generating sales?
This is a tricky one to answer as I feel I’m just starting out. Finding Mia released in June this year, I ran a month-long give away on Goodreads which generated interest regarding the book. Whether those ticked over into sales… my first royalty statement will tell. I’m taking the slow and steady approach, rather than trying to create a big bang of interest at this stage.

What other books do you have in the works?
Spirit Walker books 2 and 3, though I’m currently detouring with a quirky inspirational romance project that sideswiped me and won’t go away. The only way to make it leave me alone is to write it, it seems.

What is the best advice you’ve been given about writing or that you’ve learned that you would like to pass along?
Lose the hang-ups and just write. Get on with it. Bad writing can be edited, but there is nothing you can do for no writing.

Are there any other notes you’d like to add?
If a scary-big writing opportunity comes your way, and there is the slightest chance that you can do what they are asking of you – say YES. I’ve taken on some projects that I had no idea I’d actually be able to pull off. I’ve always managed and learnt a ton in the process.

That's it for today's interview. There's no excuse for not writing. Treat it as a 2nd job you have to do as a time clock check-in. As Dianne says, "Get on with it!"

If you'd like to learn more about Dianne's writing, here's some great ways to do that.
Website: www.diannejwilson.com
Twitter: @diannejwilson
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/diannejwilsonauthor
My lovely writing community on FB – all writers welcome: https://www.facebook.com/groups/writeandberead/

Getting Past Rejections to Acceptances: Author Interview with Majorie Brody

Marjorie and I both share a love of writing and are also both active in two of the same writing groups. I have appreciated her critiques and  comments in the past and thought it time others heard from her as well. I know you will get some wonderful insight from her thoughts on writing and overcoming the not so dreaded rejection letter. I say not so dreaded because I believe each rejection only gets you closer to your next acceptance and isn't that what we all hope to achieve? So, let's get on with the interview.

You recently beat me and others out for the Junette Woller Award from the San Antonio Writers Guild for the most writing rejections in the year. Congratulations!
I beat the runner-up by one submission, averaging just under two and a half per month.

Why do you think it’s important to celebrate your rejections?
I’m not so sure it’s celebrating being rejected—after all, I wouldn’t want to put this credential on my resume—as about making a public statement that as a professional writer I’m submitting my work.

How did this award start?
Junette "Judy" Woller wasn’t looking to embarrass anyone with this award, but she firmly believed that to become published, one had to submit—and keep submitting. She started this award in 1991 to encourage writers--whether they wrote fiction, nonfiction, or poetry--to get their work out there. In addition to the encouragement, the award was to help off-set the expense of postage. As I said, it wasn’t so much to celebrate one's rejections as to celebrate the tenacity and courage of writers to put their work into the hands of other professionals where it would have a chance to reach an audience, rather than remaining hidden in a drawer somewhere.

I think Judy also wanted to celebrate authors who didn't retreat from writing when rejections did come. Everyone who has ever won the "Judy Award”, as the San Antonio Writers Guild affectionately calls it, has gone on to be published.

What types of works did you send out that elicited these rejections?

Since my publisher has the right of first refusal on my next novel, I could only send out poetry and short stories. I’ve had poetry rejected from one magazine and accepted by another. The same with short stories. In fact, I’ve had short stories rejected by some publishers and receive awards from others. Which hopefully, gives your readers encouragement not to accept a rejection as a final statement about their work.

What is one of the best rejections you ever received?

Interesting, thinking about rejections as “the best” or “the worst”. One standout rejection was for my short story, “Charged Connections”. The editor commented in positive, thoughtful ways on specific aspects of the story and character development. He stated that although he couldn't use that particular story in his magazine, he wanted me to send him something else.

 

Another memorable rejection was for my novel, TWISTED. An agent who represented adult fiction complemented the writing and the story’s unique concept, but thought because the protagonist was a teenager, the novel was more suitable for a young adult audience. He asked me if he could sent it to a colleague who represented YA, which he did. The YA agent also liked the writing and the story, but felt the subject matter was better suited for adults. Which supports the value of the Judy Award. Writers must continue to submit if their work is rejected because this is such a subjective business and readers/agents/editors have different points of view and different tastes.

 

By the way, the publishing house who acquired my novel categorized TWISTED as a psychological suspense suited for both adult and YA readers.

 

Have you ever wanted to stop writing after getting a rejection?

Rejections can be discouraging, and I've seen excellent writers stop after receiving a few, but I also know that some of the greats received numerous rejections before being recognized. Alex Haley received 200 for Roots, which went on to become a TV miniseries and receive a Pulitzer Prize special citation. James Patterson’s first novel won an Edgar after 31 publishers rejected it. His books now sell in the millions. Kathryn Stockett received 60 rejections for The Help. I entered this profession with the attitude that I didn’t become accomplished in my first career overnight and I would need to give myself time to become an accomplished author. I view rejections as part of the learning experience.

Your first career was as a psychotherapist, what made you want to write fiction?

I loved working with my clients and helping them make a difference in their lives. And my clients certainly gave me a deeper understanding of conflicts of the psyche, but the seed that had been planted in my youth—that urge to write fiction—pushed it way into my consciousness. And I could no longer ignore it.  

How long have you been writing your short stories and plays?

I’ve dabbled with writing all my life off and on, but didn’t take the career seriously until 2000—when I decided I wanted to write a novel. In 2007 I left my clinical practice to write full time. 

 

How many short stories do you think you’ve written?

I must have a dozen or so completed short stories. More in various stages of development. I’ve been fortunate to have at least one story published in each volume of The Short Story America Anthology. The editor of that anthology nominated “It Was Said” for the Pushcart Prize, but I have other award-winning stories which remain unpublished. I may publish a collection of them myself. 

 

I’ve had three plays produced professionally. I’ve got another play in my computer, one that calls to me often, but I’m just not ready to tackle the demands it requires. When I do, I’ll have to fasten my seatbelt and hang on for the ride.

You’ve now released your first novel. How long did it take you to write that book? How many rewrites did you do on it?

My critique partner says it only took me two years to write this novel, it felt like four years to me. I can't begin to tell you how many rewrites I made. I tend towards perfectionism, so once the big structural work has been nailed down, I get into the nitty-gritty making sure I say exactly what I mean. I could spend weeks working on one sentence, because although each word has to be the perfect fit, so does the rhythm of the sentences.  If a word is changed, that could call for changes in the whole paragraph. It's a good thing the book was published or I might still be tweaking it.

How did you go through the process of finding a publisher? How many sources did you pitch? Did you pitch any agents?

My first approach was to query agents, but as you've heard in my tale of best rejections, TWISTED is a hard story to categorize, blending literary and commercial styles and accessible to a cross-section of readers. It helps if agents can easily place your book into a marketing niche. So while agent responses were encouraging, I didn't find THE agent for the novel, and at that point in my writing career, I still wanted to go the traditional route. I had heard about Belle Bridge Books and their willingness to publish fiction that fell outside the norm. I submitted the entire manuscript and received a note from the acquisition editor within two weeks.

How do you write? Did you do an outline first? Did you do individual character development before doing the full plot?

My process has changed over the years. I've moved from just needing to know a character and where I want him or her to be at the end of the novel and then writing them to that point (although I have had some characters rebel) to now wanting to know more about the turning points for the story and the key scenes in advance. I still don't outline in the traditional way, but I like to know my character's flaws, backstory, and internal and external goals before I start. I always discover more about my characters as I write about them. It's as if the more time I spend with them in action, the more they trust me to reveal themselves.

How much does social media play in your promotion of your books?

I’ve heard over and over about the need for a strong social media presence and I do have a Facebook page, a twitter name and a website, but I just dabble in social media. It hasn’t been a preferred way of interacting for me. My publisher would prefer I spend my efforts writing the next novel, and the next, rather than promote what’s already published. but I do think that in today’s market, promoting via social media is important.

 

I am on the social media committee for “The Thrill Begins”, a blogspot for debut authors of the International Thriller Writers organization. But there I’m promoting other authors, not myself. I’ve recently be invited to write a monthly blog for “The Stiletto Gang”, a group of female mystery authors. For me, relationships have more to do with the personal, one-on-one connections I develop with colleagues and readers. Ask me this same question in another year, Chris, perhaps I’ll be more settled in a social media routine. I certainly  admire those writers who can maintain an active social media presence and still create compelling, powerful books.

 

What suggestions do you have for enhancing a writer’s social media platform?

Find your strength regarding social media and start with that venue. Expand out from there as you can.

 

What type of publicity do you do to promote your book?

I’ve done presentations for writer and non-writer organizations, book club talks, and book give-aways for other authors. What has worked best for you in generating sales? Amazon promoted TWISTED as a Deal of the Month and that helped. Many readers won’t pay a standard book price to read a new author. They don’t want to take the chance, so being selected by Amazon boosted sales. Book clubs are nice because all the members purchase the book in advance. And on a personal level, once the members finish reading TWISTED, I don’t have to censor my discussion of the story. That makes if fun for me, and the readers enjoy being privy to the behind-the-scenes scoop.

What do you know now about writing/publishing that you wished you had known sooner?

I wish I had known what a struggle it would be to place writing as a priority without sacrificing the needs of family. I think I spent years feeling guilty when I said no to family in order to write and resentful when I said no to writing in order to satisfy the needs of family. As a writer, I have to write. I mean, I have to. It’s something inside me I must do or I’m miserable, grumpy, and plain not happy. But as a mother/wife/grandmother/daughter/sister/friend, I want to be there for those I love and care about. What I know now is that there can be a balance. I wished I had figured out how to achieve it sooner, but then, what’s a story without a struggle? And what’s life, if not an amazing story?

What is the best advice you’ve been given about writing or that you’ve learned that you would like to pass along?

If you want to be a professional writer, act like one. That means doing those things that professional writers do: write regularly, network with fellow writers, learn both the craft and the business side of writing, and don't give up. Which brings us full circle to the Judy Award.

 That's all for today's interview. Hope you've enjoyed it and are encouraged to keep writing. If you would like to learn more about Majorie and her writing, here are some links to get you there...

 Website          Amazon      Barnes and Noble

 

 

 

To Abandon or not to Abandon Your Book Project: Guest Blog by Natasha Yim

In January, my new picture book Goldy Luck and The Three Pandas, a multicultural retelling of the Goldilocks tale with a Chinese New Year theme, was released by Charlesbridge Publishing after a long and arduous nine-year journey which took the manuscript through five editors, two publishers, numerous revisions, and one-cancelled contract. An interviewer asked me recently, “What was it about this story that made you stick with it and not give up?” Why, indeed? How do we, as writers, know when to abandon a project that wasn’t selling? How do we know whether our story hasn’t made its way to publication because: a) it’s just not right for the current marketplace, b) not right for one (or a few) particular editor(s), c) needs more revisions, d) needs to be rewritten entirely, or e) needs to be shelved altogether?

This list of possibilities runs through my head every time I get a rejection. When should I let the story go and move onto something else? I’ve shelved projects before because I can’t make the story work or it’s encountered a few rejections. But then, the thought always crosses my mind: did I give up on it too soon? Kathryn Stockett received 60 rejections for her novel The Help before the 61st agent took her on. At 5 rejections, should I have pressed on for another 55?

The frustration for writers is that there is no one answer to that question. There are too many variables and editors are readers first, with individual reading tastes, and editors second, when they’ve already acquired the manuscript. You can have a brilliantly written story but if it’s not in a genre that appeals to an editor, she will most likely pass on it.

I probably have a dozen stories on my computer that have been shelved for one reason or the other. Some, like a manuscript called “Papa Bear’s Good Deed”, the Goldilocks story written from papa bear’s perspective, have morphed into different stories such as the current Goldy Luck and the Three Pandas. Others should probably never see the light of day. And then there are stories that keep calling to me from the bowels of my hard drive. And that’s when I know they’re not ready to be abandoned. They’re just on hiatus.

For Goldy Luck, the decision to stick with it was a bit easier. Sure, it’s had its share of rejections, but it was also always on the cusp. Editors liked it. It was taken through the acquisitions process a few times. I’ve had two offers of publication, first from Tricycle Press/Random House until RH decided to shutter the imprint and subsequently canceled my contract, then from Charlesbridge Publishing. I knew there was something in this story that was worth hanging in there for.

Between Tricycle Press’ offer and Charlesbridge’s, my editor Karen Grencik of Red Fox Literary submitted Goldy Luck and the Three Pandas to several other publishers. Here’s one rejection email it garnered: “The recasting of this familiar fable is perhaps a smart (and safe) approach, yet the frequent attempts to make it feel authentically Chinese felt overly self-conscious.” Ouch!

A couple of months later came my wonderful Charlesbridge editor Alyssa Mito Pusey’s email: “I’m thrilled to report that the acquisition folks loved Goldy Luck. The cultural details and unique voice really made the story stand out for them.” Two different publishing houses, two very different responses. It’s a subjective business.

I always weigh editorial comments carefully, but try not to let rejections derail me. What one editor doesn’t like, another might love. Ultimately, it only takes ONE editor to take you from unpublished to published.

So keep writing, keep collecting those rejection letters (every painful one will make you stronger), keep submitting, and keep on believing.